Intentions of the Earl

With no other means for an income, the impoverished Andrew Black, earl of Townson, makes an agreement that will put a definite end to his eight-year poverty streak. But in order to gain his fortune, he must do only one simple thing: ruin an innocent young lady's reputation enough to make her flee to America.

Three Weeks to Wed: The Worthingtons, Book 1

Lady Grace Carpenter is ready to seize the day - or, rather, the night - with the most compelling man she's ever known. Marriage would mean losing guardianship of her beloved siblings, and surely no sane gentleman will take on seven children not his own. But if she can have one anonymous tryst with Mattheus, Earl of Worthington, Grace will be content to live out the rest of her life as a spinster.

Forever Betrothed, Never the Bride: Scandalous Seasons, Book 1

Lady Emmaline Fitzhugh, a hopeless romantic, is tired of sitting with the wallflowers, waiting for her betrothed to come to his senses and marry her. When Emmaline reads one too many reports of his scandalous liaisons in the gossip rags, she takes matters into her own hands.

My Fair Duchess: A Once Upon a Rogue Novel, Book 1

After years of playing the rake to hide a dark family secret, the Duke of Aversley feels tainted beyond redemption and cynical beyond repair. Never does he imagine hope will come in the form of a quirky, quick-witted lady determined to win the heart of another gentleman. Thanks to a painfully awkward past, Lady Amelia De Vere long ago relinquished the notion she was a flower that had yet to blossom.

Bargaining with a Rake: Whisper of Scandal, Book 1

For 11 years, Gillian Rutherford has dreamed of escaping her family's dark secret and living a normal life. Now, faced with an unwelcome marriage that will chain her to London and the secret slowly killing her, she's desperate to save herself and the sister she adores. Salvation comes in the form of an American shipping tycoon, and all she must do is seduce him into marrying her. But Gillian's scheme hits a snag when she makes a bargain with a notorious rake Alexander Trevelle, Lord Lionhurst.

The Rogue's Wager

Lord Robert Dennington, the Marquess of Westfield, has long reveled in the freedom afforded him as the ducal heir. He knows he must someday do right by the Somerset line, but he's in no hurry to give up his carefree existence.Helena Banbury is a bookkeeper in a gentleman's gambling club, adept at analyzing numbers and accounts but helpless for lack of influence.

The Duke and I

Simon Basset, the irresistible Duke of Hastings, has hatched a plan to keep himself free from the town's marriage-minded society mothers. He pretends to be engaged to the lovely Daphne Bridgerton. After all, it isn't as if the brooding rogue has any real plans to marry - though there is something about the alluring Miss Bridgerton that sets Simon's heart beating a bit faster. And as for Daphne, surely the clever debutante will attract some very worthy suitors now that it seems a duke has declared her desirable.

The Duke's Holiday: The Regency Romp Trilogy, Book 1

The cold, precise Duke of Montford demands things his way: neatly ordered, in place, and adhering closely to the rules. So he is furious when he learns that the tenant of his ducal estate has been dead for a year, and a stranger has been running the Honeywell business - which, by contract, is now Montford's. When he arrives in Yorkshire to investigate, he discovers that the estate is being run by an unruly, tomboyish woman - and a bluestocking at that!

When a Laird Loves a Lady: Highlander Vows: Entangled Hearts, Book 1

Raised by a tyrannical father, Marion de Lacy yearns for the comfort of belonging to a loving family. So when her father announces her betrothal to an evil knight in exchange for his help to overthrow the king, she concocts a desperate scheme to avoid the marriage: feigning her own death and then fleeing England. But when her plan goes terribly awry and she's captured by the knight, not even her careful preparations could ready her for the Scottish barbarian who rescues her and then informs her that he's to marry her.

Stranger in My Arms

“Lady Hawksworth, your husband is not dead.” With those words, Lara’s life turned upside down. Hunter, Earl of Hawksworth, had been lost at sea. Or so she’d been told. Their unhappy marriage - with its cold caresses and passionless kisses – was over. But now a powerful, virile man stood before her, telling secrets only a husband could know, and vowing she would once again be his wife in every way.

The Viscount's Christmas Temptation: Dukes of War, Book 1

Certain individuals might consider Lady Amelia Pembroke a managing sort of female, but truly most people would be lost without her help. Why, the latest on-dit is that rakish Viscount Sheffield is canceling the fete of the year because he hasn't time for silly soirees. He doesn't need time - he needs her!

The Wild One: The De Montforte Brothers

England, 1776: Lord Gareth de Montforte is known as an irresponsible rake with a heart of gold. When he takes a bullet for boldly thwarting a stagecoach robbery, he is stunned to discover that the beautiful young woman he has heroically rescued, Juliet Paige, is his deceased brother's American fiancée, accompanied by her infant daughter.

Kindle Customer Ursula Okerlund says:"The Wild One First Book of a great Series"

How to Capture a Duke: Matchmaking for Wallflowers, Book 1

Fiona Amberly is more intrigued by the Roman ruins near her manor house than she is by balls. When her dying grandmother worries about Fiona's future, Fiona stammers that she's secretly engaged. Soon she finds herself promising that she will introduce her husband-to-be by Christmas.

The Soldier: Windham, Book 2

His idyllic estate is falling down from neglect, and nightmares of war give him no rest. Then Devlin St. Just meets his new neighbor.... With her confident manner hiding a devastating secret, his lovely neighbor commands all of his attention, and protecting Emmaline becomes Devlin's most urgent mission.

The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie: Highland Pleasures, Book 1

It was whispered all through London society that he was a murderer, that he'd spent his youth in an asylum and was not to be trusted - especially with a lady. Any woman caught in his presence was immediately ruined. Yet Beth found herself inexorably drawn to the Scottish lord whose hint of a brogue wrapped around her like silk and whose touch could draw her into a world of ecstasy.

The Heir: Windham Series, Book 1

Gayle Windham, earl of Westhaven, is the first legitimate son and heir to the duke of Moreland. To escape his father's inexorable pressure to marry, he decides to spend the summer at his townhouse in London, where he finds himself intrigued by the secretive ways of his beautiful housekeeper. Anna Seaton is a beautiful, talented, educated woman, which is why it is so puzzling to Gayle Windham that she works as his housekeeper.

Simply Unforgettable: The Simply Quartet, Book 1

Stranded together in a rustic country inn, Lucius Marshall, who is the Viscount Sinclair, and Frances Allard share a night of glorious, unforgettable passion. But Frances knows her place, and it is far from the privileged world of the sensual aristocrat. Due to begin her teaching position at Miss Martin's School in Bath, Frances must try to forget that one extraordinary night - and the man who touched her with such exquisite tenderness and abandon.

The Wicked Duke: The Wicked Trilogy, Book 3

Suspected of his brother's murder, Lancelot Hemingford, Duke of Aylesbury, was forced to give up his hell-raising habits in London for the anonymity of quiet country living. So, when an opportunity arises to clear his name in exchange for proposing to the niece of a neighbor, he sees no choice but to accept. Plus, seducing the reluctant maiden will be a most intriguing challenge.

Marrying Winterborne

Savage ambition has brought common-born Rhys Winterborne vast wealth and success. In business and beyond, Rhys gets exactly what he wants. And from the moment he meets the shy, aristocratic Lady Helen Ravenel, he is determined to possess her. If he must take her virtue to ensure she marries him, so much the better....

Romancing the Duke: Castles Ever After

As the daughter of a famed author, Isolde Ophelia Goodnight grew up on tales of brave knights and fair maidens. She never doubted romance would be in her future, too. The storybooks offered endless possibilities. And as she grew older, Izzy crossed them off. One by one by one....Now Izzy's given up yearning for romance. She'll settle for a roof over her head. What fairy tales are left over for an impoverished 26-year-old woman who's never even been kissed?

The Other Duke: The Notorious Flynns, Volume 1

For years Serafina McPhee has been engaged to marry the heir to the duke of Hartholm; and for almost as long, she has been struggling to find a way out of that engagement. When he suddenly dies, she does not mourn but thrills at the idea that she will be free. Unfortunately, best-laid plans go awry when the next in line for the title, her intended's cousin, Raphael "Rafe" Flynn, is forced to take over the engagement. But Serafina knows Rafe's reputation as a libertine and wants nothing to do with him, either, even if he is devastatingly handsome.

Dance with Deception: Scandalous Secrets, Book 1

Haunted by his father's sins, Sebastian Montgomery, ninth Duke of Davenport vows never to fall in love or marry - until he encounters Gwendolyn MacAlistair and she consumes his thoughts. Sebastian wants her, and as he learned from his father, what a duke wants, a duke takes. Gwen's father has arranged for her to marry a man she despises, the very man who shattered her fragile family.

The Duchess War: The Brothers Sinister, Book 1

Miss Minerva Lane is a quiet, bespectacled wallflower, and she wants to keep it that way. After all, the last time she was the center of attention, it ended badly - so badly that she changed her name to escape her scandalous past. Wallflowers may not be the prettiest of blooms, but at least they don't get trampled. So when a handsome duke comes to town, the last thing she wants is his attention.

The Viscount's Vow: Castle Bride Series, Book 1

Part Romani, noblewoman Evangeline Caruthers is the last woman in England Ian Hamilton, the Viscount Warrick, could ever love-an immoral wanton responsible for his brother's and father's deaths. Vangie thinks Ian's a foul-tempered blackguard, who after setting out to cause her downfall, finds himself forced to marry her-snared in the trap of his own making.

Publisher's Summary

An avid academic and aspiring scientist, Edward Banks, Lord Watson is pleased to find that he won't have to bother with the nonsense involved in courting a young lady. Young and naive, it doesn't take much for her social-climbing father to convince Regina the gentleman she's to marry has requested her hand out of love, but devastates her when she learns the truth. Now, it's up to a gentleman who's more comfortable in a conservatory than a drawing room to prove to Regina that she's more than just the proverbial sacrificial lamb that helped gain her family their foot in Society's door and that he - if no other gentleman - is trustworthy. But he just might be the one doing the learning as he'll be forced to acknowledge that sometimes the most combustible elements aren't the ones you control, but the ones you don't.

In this novel, a belief based on a lie left uncorrected leads to the misunderstanding that is the impetus of the plot. I like it that the hero has to work for the survival of the relationship, and the heroine gains strength and a belief in her own self-worth. There is growth in both characters. But I do have a problem, though it is not unique to this book. The girl saw him from the top of the stairs and decided she was in love with him. Her roommate's brother introduced them, they shared perhaps 10 words before a crisis interrupted the conversation, then she pined away for him for the entire Season. I hate the "love at first sight" plot device. Why can't it be a tingle at first sight, or just outright lust? Well, I guess girls didn't know sexual interest from love back then, but wouldn't they have the sense to want to know the guy before committing to him with their whole hearts and/or other body parts? At any rate, this was a fun listen.

Words like, gentle, kindness, thoughtfulness, and respect come to mind as adjectives in describing the male lead in this book, Edward. I appreciated the maturity in which the characters were portrayed. Rose Gordon is a wonderful author.I would definitely recommend this book. The narration is well done and each character has a clear and distinct voice.Well done.

Only in the best way, of course! I've really been enjoying your books! After finishing the Groom series, I started this series and I see where some of those characters got their ways and why the townhouse was decorated so oddly. I also got the biggest laugh when you explained what the wax statues loin cloth covered. I love little touches like that in a book. The epilogue was a tearjerker, especially knowing what I've read in other books. While it doesn't take much to bring me to tears, it does take getting my emotions involved and a good story! :-) ♡

Would you consider the audio edition of His Contract Bride to be better than the print version?

I was listening to the audio edition!!

What other book might you compare His Contract Bride to and why?

I hate this question... Books aren't meant to be compared unless its within a series or authors work. This was a almost typical regency romance... but just that.

What does Michelle Anne Johnson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

A voice... the enjoyment of listening to it and feeling comfortable with the listen the whole way thru. That alone says a lot.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Several. But the moment when they finally turn the corner and get it, at last.

Any additional comments?

Its been a few days since this listen, a couple of books ago. But I still feel that it was a overall smooth story, a comfortable listen. I enjoyed the ease of it. There was no truly great mystery or any overwhelming hurdles... but it was sweet. A LOVE story! Worth a credit? I don't know. If your looking just for love then maybe.